A Small Christmas Tail-Part 1

I penned a Christmas story as a way to celebrate the season.  Hope you enjoy!

A Small Christmas Tail


The front door swung open and the voices of the Lady and the Man filled the house. They spoke fast in a high-pitched way that brought a small brown rag-tag dog racing to discover what had happened. His ears perked to attention while his entire back end wriggled with the effort of wagging a stubby tail as hard as he could make it go. Crisp air whooshed inside as though seeking the room's cozy warmth. A strange object followed.

"Look out, Casey. We're coming through."

With the Man's words, the little dog did a stiff-legged dance backward without once taking his eyes off the sight of an enormous bristled stick that pushed into the room. A few needles fell softly to the floor, making an awful mess. Such things usually upset the Lady. But today, she only laughed.

The stick smelled of pine and dirt and outdoor scents that pulled Casey in closer for a more thorough inspection.

The Man inhaled deeply.

"Smells good, doesn't it?"

The Lady and the Man got the stick inside and then pushed it into a metal bowl that helped it stand upright. The top nearly reached the ceiling. Casey watched as the Man cut away a net that freed branches which dropped to the side. The stick began to look more and more like one of Casey's favorite outside trees. He buried his snout in one of the lowest branches. The Man was right. It smelled wonderful.

Then another strange thing happened. The Man and the Lady began to wrap wires around the tree. Then they plugged it into the wall and the whole thing began to glow brighter than the living room reading lamps. Even after that, they continued to put strange shaped items on the tree. The ones Casey could reach moved enticingly when he touched them, so he couldn't resist pulling one off to taste it.

"No, Casey," the Man's voice was stern, but he tempered his words by patting Casey's head.

"This is your first Christmas, so I know it's all new to you. The tree is to help us remember the Christmas season. But you mustn't touch it."

Casey's ears sank and he laid down to watch as the Lady and the Man put the final touches on the tree. They smiled and nodded as they gazed upon its splendor. Casey had to admit it looked nice and made a fine addition to the living room.

He began to wonder about the word, Christmas. What in the world did it mean? He hoped his people would say more about it. But instead of talking, they turned on the television to watch a program that featured one song after another. Casey jumped on the couch and nosed his head under the Lady's hand. She obliged him by smoothing the fur on his head.

"I just love Christmas," she sighed.

Christmas again. The more he heard, the more he wanted to understand it. Finally Casey decided there was only one thing to do. He'd ask those best known for their powers of observation.

His friends, the animals.